Israel Airstrike Kills Hezbollah Military Chief in Beirut as Ceasefire Tensions Rise
Israel has confirmed the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in a rare daytime airstrike on Beirut, heightening concerns over the stability of the nearly year-old ceasefire between both sides.
The strike targeted Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut, killing Abu Ali Al-Tabtabai, Hezbollah’s chief of general staff and the group’s second-in-command after Secretary-General Naim Qassem. Israel described Al-Tabtabai as a key figure who played a major role in shaping the Iran-backed group’s military strategy.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Al-Tabtabai had “significant influence within Hezbollah” and was central to the group’s efforts to strengthen its capabilities. The Lebanese health ministry reported five deaths and 28 injuries from the attack, the first such strike on Beirut in months.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the mission was ordered to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military infrastructure, citing a self-defense clause in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement signed on 27 November 2024.
Hezbollah confirmed the commander’s death, vowing it would further motivate its fighters. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike as fresh evidence that Israel continues to ignore calls to halt its operations on Lebanese soil.
Under the ceasefire terms, the Lebanese government is required to disarm Hezbollah and remove its fighters from border areas. While the group paused its missile attacks after the deal, it refused to surrender its weapons. Israel, claiming Hezbollah is rearming, has carried out near-daily strikes on what it says are militant positions.
Netanyahu on Sunday reiterated Israel’s resolve: “We will continue to do everything necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing its threat capability.”
Lebanon recently directed its army to prepare a phased disarmament plan for Hezbollah and other militias, beginning with southern Lebanon. But both Israel and the U.S. doubt Beirut’s ability to enforce the agreement, while Lebanese officials warn that continued Israeli strikes are eroding the truce.
Despite the ceasefire requirement to withdraw from Lebanese territory, Israel maintains five military outposts across the border. It has signaled readiness to dismantle them—but only if the Lebanese Armed Forces move decisively against Hezbollah.
Al-Tabtabai, a veteran operative since the 1980s, was designated a global terrorist by the U.S. in 2016 for his roles in Syria and Yemen. Washington has offered up to $5 million for information on his activities. He previously commanded Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and oversaw major operations in Syria.
His killing comes months after another top Hezbollah military chief, Fuad Shukr, was eliminated in an Israeli strike in July 2024.
The latest escalation raises new doubts about whether the fragile ceasefire can hold as both sides trade warnings and military pressure intensifies.
